A pre-snap read on the Cleveland Browns (4-8) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) game Thursday at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh. Game time is 8:20 p.m. ET:

What’s at stake

The Steelers are tied for first place with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. However, the Ravens own the tiebreaker because they have beaten the Steelers twice. The Steelers must keep winning to have any shot at getting a home playoff game or a first-round bye.

The Browns are in a familiar position—playing for pride in the midst of another disappointing season. This matchup has been particularly brutal for the Browns, who have lost 14 of their past 15 games against the Steelers.

Key matchup

Wide receiver-returner Josh Cribbs vs. Steelers defense and special teams. For the Browns to pull off the upset, they will likely need big plays from Cribbs, who has hurt the Steelers in the past. Containing Cribbs will be a focal point for the Steelers, whether it’s during special teams play or from the line of scrimmage.

“He’s a multipurpose guy,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters. “Of course, he’s capable of hurting you in a lot of ways, Wildcat and others. Those are some things that scare you in a short week like this week, because you get limited opportunity to prepare.

“We cannot let Josh Cribbs do what he’s done to us time and time again in the past. We’ve been dead Indians in his cowboy movie enough.”

X-factor

Steelers' mindset. If the Steelers approach this game with the right focus, they should win it. They have won three straight and seven of their past eight and are fighting for playoff seeding.

Pittsburgh is coming off one of its best performances of the season, Sunday’s 35-7 rout of the Cincinnati Bengals. Right now, the Steelers appear to be in sync on both sides of the ball.

However, this could be a so-called trap game if the Steelers take it lightly—a short week and a home game against a team they have dominated for years. The Browns average only 14.6 points per game, but if they can keep the score low, it will increase their chance of pulling the upset.